Overall, health IT consultants appear to be slightly more satisfied with their job than full-time health IT employees, according to a survey from Healthcare IT Leaders, a health IT consulting and staffing firm.
The survey compiled responses from 198 full-time employees and 248 health IT consultants in May 2014.
Here are ten key findings on health IT employee satisfaction.
1. Nearly 20 percent full-time employees indicated being very satisfied with their job, and 45 percent said they were somewhat satisfied.
2. However, 43 percent of health IT consultants said they were very satisfied with their job. Thirty-four percent were somewhat satisfied.
3. Twelve percent of full-time employees reported being very dissatisfied, compare to just 2 percent of consultants.
4. Seventy-six percent of respondents who are very dissatisfied reported actively looking for a new job.
5. Consultants are generally more satisfied with their pay, with 40 percent saying they are very satisfied. Only 18 percent of full-time employees indicated being very satisfied with their pay.
6. Conversely, 28 percent of full-time employees said they were either somewhat or very dissatisfied with their pay, compared to 12 percent of consultants.
7. However, full-time employees are more satisfied with their benefits, with 74 percent indicating they are very or somewhat satisfied, compared to 42 percent of consultants.
8. Full-time employees and consultants find their jobs equally challenging. In both groups, 54 percent of respondents indicated their jobs were either extremely or very challenging. Three percent of full-time employees said their job was not at all challenging, as did 4 percent of consultants.
9. Consultants were more likely to say their work is extremely meaningful, at 40 percent. Twenty-nine percent of full-time employees echoed that sentiment. One percent of both groups said their job was not at all meaningful.
10. Consultants are more likely to be actively looking for jobs, at 46 percent. Comparatively, just 24 percent of full-time employees are actively looking for new jobs.
More articles on the health IT workforce:
Survey: Health IT workers desire higher compensation
Healthcare CIOs: past, present and future
HIMSS' workforce survey shows health IT hiring continues to rise